Hou Initiates Christmasland While Lin Criticizes as 'Nightmare' 侯友宜啟動耶誕城 林佳龍批「板橋人惡夢」

"New Taipei City Christmasland" will officially kick off on Nov. 11. While the famous annual event has gained international recognition and is considered Mayor Hou Yu-yi's major achivement, his opponent, DPP's Lin Chia-lung criticized it as a "nightmare" for local residents. 

Pouring of magic water signifies the inception of the New Taipei City Christmasland. New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-yi announced that Christmasland will open on Nov. 11 and continued to be lit up till Jan. 2 of next year. The New Taipei Christmasland was awarded top 50 of global Christmas events, and Hou deems it as an important political achievement. This year it will be further expanded. Nevertheless, his opponent DPP candidate Lin Chia-lung criticized it as Banqiao people's nightmare, building joy upon others' misfortune, while Hou refuted that Christmasland is model marketing for New Taipei City.

Hou Yu-yi, New Taipei City Mayor: “Hosting this in New Taipei City, where it has already attained fixed-point popularity, is akin to Carnival of Venice, German Oktoberfest, or even Times Square New Year's Countdown. This is model marketing for New Taipei City. ”

Lin Chia-lung, DPP New Taipei City Mayoral Candidate: “He has doubled the budget and early commenced the event, half a month before the elections to hold Christmasland this year. But do we see a new traffic safety maintenance plan, based on past experience?”

Hou emphasized that New Tapei City's Christmasland has become a flagship event and attained notable popularity over the years, whereas Lin believes any administrative district can host grand ceremonies. Both continue to debate over Christmasland. In addition, at the New Taipei City Election Committee's lottery draw on Oct. 21, both camps had sent representatives to draw from the lottery, and Lin got no. 1, calling out the motto "New Taipei Will Win" while Hou continued as last time and drew No. 2, noting he will "commit to perfecting all his tasks." 

Lin Chia-lung, DPP New Taipei City Mayoral Candidate: “Must renew! Let's push for a major makeover of New Taipei and the people will win.”

Hou Yu-yi, New Taipei City Mayor: “I drew No. 2 last time as well, continuing my spirit of committing to perfect all my tasks for the people.”

Lin Chia-lung actively immerses in land battle, with his first carsweeping trip starting from Banqiao. With respect to President Tsai Ing-wen personally supporting and endorsing him on at least 10 different occasions before the election, Lin noted that President Tsai is a New Taipei citizen and thus pays tremendous attention to the New Taipei City election, and this election represents a whole DPP election.  
 

倒入魔法水，象徵啟動新北歡樂耶誕城，新北市長侯友宜宣布耶誕城11月11日開城，一路點亮到明年1月2日，新北耶誕城榮獲全球50大最棒耶誕活動，侯友宜更視為重要政績，今年更是擴大舉辦。不過，對手民進黨候選人林佳龍批評，耶誕城是板橋人的惡夢，把歡樂建築在在別人的痛苦上；侯友宜回擊，耶誕城是新北的城市典範行銷。

新北市長侯友宜表示：「新北市這個地方來辦，享有定點的知名度，就跟威尼斯的嘉年華、德國的啤酒節，甚至包括時代廣場的跨年活動一樣，這是新北市的城市典範行銷。」

民進黨新北市長候選人林佳龍則指出：「特別又把預算加倍，而且這個時間提早進行，在選前半個月就來辦今年的耶誕城活動，那我們沒有看到有相對於過去，新的交通安全的維持計畫。」

侯友宜強調，耶誕城長期在新北市政府辦，已有定點知名度；林佳龍認為，各型行政區都能舉辦盛典，雙方針對耶誕城持續交鋒。此外，新北市選委會今日舉行抽籤號次，雙方陣營都派人代抽。林佳龍抽中1號，喊出新北一定贏；侯友宜則延續上一任參選，抽到2號，表示會「侯侯做代誌」。

民進黨新北市長候選人林佳龍表示：「一定要翻新，大家呢，來推動新北大翻新，那人民一定贏。」

新北市長侯友宜表示：「我上次也抽到2號，延續我侯侯做代誌，讓我為你好好做事情的精神。」

林佳龍積極投入陸戰，首次車掃行程從板橋出發，針對總統蔡英文選前，至少輔選站台10次。林佳龍表示，蔡總統就是新北市民，高度重視新北選戰，這場選舉更代表民進黨全黨的選舉。